10 Guinness World Records to kick off football season

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The National Football League kicks off its season this week, and we have 10 of our favorite Guinness World Records to celebrate:

1. Largest audience for a US TV programmeAmerica came to a standstill as the New York Giants clinched a last-gasp 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on 5 February 2012. The game attracted an average of 111.3 million viewers, peaking at 114 million for Madonna's (USA) half-time show.

2. First undefeated regular season by an NFL teamThe New England Patriots (USA) scored a 16-0 record in 2007, becoming the first team in NFL history to achieve an undefeated regular season since the league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. The New England Patriots (USA) joined the 1934 Chicago bears (13-0), 1942 Chicago Bears (11-0) and 1972 Miami Dolphins (14-0) as the only undefeated regular season teams in the NFL's 93 year history

3. Highest completion percentage, NFL seasonThe National Football League (NFL) record for highest completion percentage by a quarterback in a season is 71.2 percent, by Drew Brees (USA) playing for the New Orleans Saints (USA) in 2011. Brees completed 468 of 657 attempts to break his own mark of 70.6 percent in 2009.

4. Most field goals attempted, NFL seasonDavid Akers (USA) set the National Football League (NFL) record for most field goals attempted in a season with 52 while place-kicking for the San Francisco 49ers (USA) in 2011.

5. Youngest NFL coachThe youngest coach ever hired in the NFL's modern era is Lane Kiffin (USA, b. 9 May 1975) who was 31 years 259 days when he signed on to coach the Oakland Raiders on 23 January 2007, just prior to the 2007 season.

6. Oldest people connecting on an NFL touchdown passVinny Testaverde (USA, b. 13 November 1963), playing for the New England Patriots, threw to team mate, Troy Brown (USA, b. 2 July 1971) on 31 December 2006 against the Tennessee Titans, making them the oldest combined ages for players connecting on an NFL touchdown pass with 78 years, 230 days.

7. Most fumble return touchdowns, NFL careerThe National Football League (NFL) record for most fumble return touchdowns is 6, by Jason Taylor (USA) while playing for the Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins and New York Jets (all USA) from 1997 to 2011.

8. Longest NFL field goalThe National Football League (NFL) record for longest successful field goal is 63 yards by Sebastian Janikowski (Poland) of the Oakland Raiders (USA) on 12 September 2011; Jason Elam (USA) of the Denver Broncos (USA) on 25 October 1998; and Tom Dempsey (USA) of the New Orleans Saints (USA) on 8 November 1970.

9. Most pass completions in an NFL career by a quarterbackThe most pass completions in an NFL career by a quarterback were set by Brett Favre (USA) for the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings with 6,083 pass completions between 1992 and 2010.

10. Fastest touchdown in NFL historyPlaying for the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles on 12 October 2003, wide receiver Randal Williams ran in the fastest touchdown in NFL history. On the opening play of the game, the Eagles attempted an onside kick, but Williams caught the ball and returned it 37 yards for a TD. The play, which set up a 23-21 Cowboys win, took just 3 seconds off the clock.